Today I have a special program: I will spend the day in French class in high school in Grand Junction with pupils aged 14 to 18 and their teacher Mrs Cronk.
You will recall that I already had this experience in Colorado Springs and asked to repeat it. Like much contact with American teenagers. They are very open and curious.
The class begins with a prayer before the American flag, hand on heart. Americans are very patriotic and I once again demonstrated. Below are some ads we hear through the speakers whose classrooms are equipped. I smile thinking of the movie "Grease" with John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John for those of my generation ... In fact, the moment I set foot in this school, I felt projected in this film. There is the same buzz in the hallways lined with lockers, the same laughs, the same drag ... And I walk like I'm invisible here with this strange sensation of being an alien landed on another planet. 30 years have passed and nothing has changed in the background except that young people are now all equipped with phones, they surf the web, they are addicted to facebook and skype ... I look amused and touched me and throw some peeps that intrigued me suggest that I do not have as much money in the setting I think. I could go for one of their teacher, but I'm obviously marked differently and I wonder: "Is that it shows that much that I'm French?".
Madam Cronk briefly introduce myself to her students and gives me the opportunity to lead the class. Very soon I'm seeing a forest of fingers raised and questions pop up: What you eat in France? What do you like America? What do you hate here? At what age can you drink alcohol and drive ? (Um not 2 at the same time I hope!) How much does the driver? Is it possible to hold hands or kiss in the streets of France? Is that homosexuals can marry? Can we approach people we do not know the street or their smile? Can we maintain friendly relations purely between boys and girls? Is it true that you take breaks of 2 hours for lunch? What sports do you?
The hours pass and the courses are repeated at full speed. When the bell rang, students instantly get up to run all join the class follows. Some come to see me to thank me and share a few impressions.
I find that in general they show a greater confidence that most French teenagers. They love their value counterparts. Ms. Cronk on his desk several small notes manuscripts submitted by students on which you can read how much they love him. They are both very open and respectful towards their teachers.
I also noticed that Americans are moving easily to the search solutions. When you ask something, they always try to give you satisfaction. I do not think I've heard "no" once. They give the impression that everything is possible. They display less "emotional" than we French are much less in the lament. They make quick choices (yes or no). They are on time to the minute (eg some classes start at 1:23 p.m.!). They start working earlier than us. Thus students begin at 7:45 am and adults can begin their day before 7:00. My foster parents go to bed around 21:00.
I finish the course in 14:45. The afternoon will be devoted to shopping with the whole team in the huge supermarkets that we want to discover such children in candy store!
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Christine
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